Development of the Life Science Anxiety Scale: A Validity and Reliability Study

The level of anxiety experienced by students in a life science course can shape not only their academic performance but also their emotional development. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a scale for examining primary school students' anxiety about life science lessons. The study was conducted using a survey model, and the data were collected face-to-face. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to analyze the data. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed with 470 and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with the participation of 437 primary school students. As a result of these analyses, a scale consisting of two factors and 15 items was obtained. In the EFA, the eigenvalues for the anxiety and comfort factors ranged between 4,278 and 2,251, explaining 43,528% of the total variance. Furthermore, the Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient value of the scale was calculated as 0.85. The two-factor structure of the scale was confirmed by the CFA (x²/sd=2.08; RMSEA=0.050; SRMR=0.045; NFI=0.94; NNFI=0.96; CFI=0.97; GFI=0.95; AGFI=0.93). The study found that the scale is valid and reliable. The research suggested that the scale can be used to examine primary school students' anxiety about life science lessons.